Evaluation of the effects of transformational leadership on individual innovation competencies

Leadership is defined as the process of directing and motivating a group of people toward common goals. Historically associated with physical strength and courage, the concept has evolved over time to encompass qualities such as strategic thinking, vision, and effective communication skills. Today, leadership is intertwined with contemporary concepts such as change management, innovation, and sustainability. Transformational leadership refers to the process by which leaders inspire, motivate, and support the personal development of their followers to promote organizational change and innovation. Transformational leaders can enhance organizational performance and employee satisfaction through visionary thinking, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration of their followers. Individual innovation is defined as a creative and transformative process aimed at improving the current state or developing new and more effective solutions. This concept is often associated with the renewal of products, services, business models, processes, or organizational structures. Research examining the relationship between transformational leadership and individual innovation has shown that this leadership style fosters creative thinking and individual innovative solutions, thereby sustaining organizational success and competitive advantage. In this context, transformational leaders can enable organizations to succeed in dynamic and competitive environments by strengthening an innovation culture and supporting risk-taking behaviors. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of transformational leadership on individual innovation competencies. In this research, the descriptive research technique, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The study was conducted with 194 participants selected through a convenience sampling method among healthcare workers employed in healthcare institutions in Baku (private hospitals, state hospitals, family health centers, and university hospitals). Data were collected through a socio-demographic information form and scales used to measure transformational leadership and individual innovation competencies. Analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS software, and the relationships and differences between variables were revealed through confirmatory factor analysis results. The findings showed a positive relationship between transformational leadership and individual innovation competencies. Additionally, transformational leadership was found to positively impact the sub-dimensions of individual innovation (creativity, critical thinking, initiative, teamwork, and networking). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that transformational leadership has a significant and positive effect on individual innovation competencies and their sub-dimensions. Transformational leadership practices can enhance individual innovation competence. The study emphasizes that organizations adopting this leadership style have the potential to adapt to environmental changes and increase their competitive advantages. By investigating the impact of transformational leadership on individual innovation competencies, this study contributes to the theoretical literature and offers valuable insights for improving leadership strategies, individual, and organizational performance.